Gavin Gillette (HAW) easily navigated the varying conditions at Punta Roca today to take the day?s highest single-wave score of 8.50 as well as the highest heat total of 15.17 while advancing to the Copa Quiksilver El Salvador Quarterfinals.

?The waves are sort of like Haleiwa,? Gillette said. ?I had a game-plan to start the heat by myself up the point and I just got lucky. That first wave I got was a beautiful one and I just backed it up with a 6. My board feels good and I feel good. I?m happy to be here.?

Gillette is currently experiencing his first trip to El Salvador, but his lifelong preparation at local Hawaiian pointbreaks have provided the perfect training grounds for success at Punta Roca.

?This is my first time here,? Gillette said. ?I?m used to point breaks. I surf them a lot back home. I?ve been spending some time here and it?s a tricky wave and I don?t have it figured out at all. I just sit down awhile before my heat and watch it closely and it?s luck of the draw sometimes.?

Joaquin Del Castillo (PER) continued to make a name for himself as one up-and-coming Latino to watch. The 16 year old Peruvian has been a standout throughout each round and was equally deadly today, taking out two heat victories over an international field to earn his position in the Quarterfinals.

?The conditions were really challenging,? Del Castillo said. ?The waves are bigger and it?s windy, but I was lucky to get that one wave that opened up and allowed me to do a few turns and I got the 7. It?s tiring out there, but I?m really happy to get through to the Quarterfinals.?

Evan Thompson (Jacksonville, FL), a standout on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, was another young talent to find success in the varying conditions today with a variety of committed forehand carves and progressive turns to earn a Quarterfinals berth.

?I knew with the high tide it would be slow and the guys in my heat were gnarly,? Thompson said. ?I wanted to make sure I caught waves. It?s hard to stay with a strategy because people paddle each other deep and I just lucky to get waves. This is my third time here, I love right points and I?m stoked to come here and surf perfect waves.?

Event organizers will reconvene on the final day of Copa Quiksilver El Salvador at 7am local time. For the LIVE action log on to www.quiksilver.com/elsalvador.